Display-case



PATENTBD FEB. 9, 1904.

W. G. ROOD.

DISPLAY CASE.

APPLIOATIOR FILED HA3, 9, 1903.

3-SHEETSSHEET 1.

10 MODEL.

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W. G. RUDD.

DISPLAY CASE.

APPLICATION FILED HAIR, 9, 1903.

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PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

W. G. ROOD.

DISPLAY CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. s, 1903.

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Patented February 9, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. ROOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,562, dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed March 9, 1903. Serial No. 146,937. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Roon, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Cases, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to the general class of display or show cases, and has for its object the construction of a simple and economical case that will more conveniently display various goods.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like or corresponding parts are represented by like reference characters, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved case. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a slightly-modified form and showing a plurality of said cases. Fig. 3 is a sectional view in line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view in line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a View of base and frame of the case shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are detail views.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a small case adapted for the attractive display of many small articles such, for example, as druggists, jewelers, and other dealers sometimes find it diiiicult to properly display because of the deep cases so generally in use.

In the preferred construction (shown in Figs. 1 and 6) a base 1 of suitable size and form is provided with vertical posts 2 2, &c., which may be of the same height, to form a flattopped case, as shown in Fig. 2, or having the front posts 2 shorter than the rear posts to incline the top, as shown in Fig. 1. (See also Fig. 6.) In small cases the inclined top is preferred. As shown, the posts are provided for the ready and convenient positioning and removal of the end and front panels as well as the top, although they may be permanently secured in position, if desired. The form shown is preferred, however, in which grooves or channels 4 4 are formed in the rear posts, and the front posts are provided with corresponding grooves 5 5. The front posts are also provided with grooves 5%; 5%, extending at right angles to the grooves 5, as shown. By this means the front panel 6 and the end panels 7 7 may be dropped into position, the grooves 4, 5, and 5'; serving to hold them securely in place. At or near the front of the bottom 1 is pivotally secured to the bottom 1 a supplemental bottom 8, resilient means being provided to normallymaintain the bottom 8 substantially in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, in which it is substantially parallel to the glass cover or top 11. As shown, springs 10 1O serve this purpose. Equivalent means such, for example, as the well-known form of springhingemay be used instead of the springs 10 10, if preferred. The top 11 may be maintained in position in any preferred manner. As shown, horizontal extensions (0 a are provided, forming grooves or channels within which the top 11 may he slid. Means are provided to prevent the rear of the hinged shelf or supplemental bottom 8 being too high to look well or to bring undue pressure on the top 11 when the articles are placed on the shelf. As shown, straps 13 13 or equivalent means limit the upward movement of the rear end of the shelf 8. A strap 14 or equivalent means attached to the shelf 8 provides means for pulling the same downward when desired to arrange goods thereon or to remove any article.

As thus described the articles to be displayed (represented by the packages 15 15 in the shelf 8, the said shelf may be depressed.

so as to readily admit the hand between the shelf and the top 11, when the articles may be removed and others replaced thereon, as desired.

The upper surface of the shelf 8 may be finished with an artistic design, or, if prethe advertising matter will be displayed. In

the preferred form also (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) means are provided to show a display-card 16 maintained in an upright position at the rear of the case. This may be maintained in position in any preferred manner. As shown, upwardly-extending tongues 17 on the back of the rear posts 2 may be provided for holding the card 16 in position, or any other preferred means may be employed for this purpose. The card 16 may contain any preferred design or any advertising matter and will add attractiveness to the device and increased utility.

When the case is small, the front and ends may, if desired, be composed of a single piece of suitable material extending around and secured to the base in any preferred manner. In the preferred construction, however, the method described is employed, by means of which soiled or injured parts may be readily removed and cleaned or replaced by others.

Any preferred means may be employed to give an alarm upon operating or depressing and releasing the shelf 8. As shown in the drawings, a gong 18 is positioned upon the base 1,with preferably a resilient bar 19 above the same. The shelf 8 is provided with a depending bar or latch 20, which is adapted to engage with the bar 19 when the shelf 8 is depressed, and upon releasing the shelf the bar will be lifted a certain distance and then released, in its downward movement striking the gong and giving an alarm. This alarm will serve to prevent petty thieving or pilfering from the case. As before remarked, any equivalent means may be employed for this purpose, one member of the alarm device being secured in proper position upon the base 1 and the other upon the movable bottom or shelf 8. As shown, the depending bar 20 is provided with a notch 21, adapted to engage with the resilient bar 19 for the purpose described.

It is obvious that the size, proportions, and positions of the various parts may be modified as desired so long as the essential features of my improvement are retained. So, also, any preferred material may be employed and any method of ornamentation or advertising employed on the exterior as well as the shelf 8 and card 16, as may be preferred. It is obvious also that in larger cases my invention may be employed in any preferred manner. As shown in Fig. 2, the large case 22 is provided with a series of sections 23, each arranged substantially as described. They may, however, constitute a single case with dividing-walls, a plurality of shelves 8 being employed, however, for convenience. In the form shown the case is provided with a fiat top. It is obvlous, however, this is optlonal. The arrangement and operation is substantially the same as described. In such constructions the various connectionssuch, for example, as the uprights 24 and the supporting-bars 25 may be formed double instead of single, as heretofore described.

After having thus described my improvement it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form and construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the kind described, asupplemental bottom or shelf pivotally supported near the front of the case and normally maintained in a position substantially parallel with the top of the case, an alarm and means for sounding the alarm when the shelf is operated.

2. In a device of the kind described, a supplemental bottom or shelf pivotally supported near the front of the case and normally maintained in a position substantially parallel to the top of the case, in combination with means for limiting the upward movement of the free end of the shelf, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the kind described, a supplemental bottom or shelf pivotally supported near the front of the case and resiliently maintained in a normal position substantially parallel with the top of the case, in combination with means for limiting the upward movement of the free end of the shelf, substantially as described.

4. A show-case in combination with a supplemental bottom or shelf pivotally supported near the front of the case and normally maintained in position substantially parallel with the top of the same, an alarm, means for sounding the alarm when the shelf is operated, and means for limiting the upward movement of the free end of the shelf, substantially as described.

5. A show-case provided with a base 1, in combination with a shelf 8 secured near its front end to the base by springs 10, and means for limiting the upward movement of the free end of the shelf, whereby when in its normal position the shelf is substantially parallel to the top of the case.

6. A show-case provided with a base 1, in combination with a shelf 8 pivotally supported near its front end, resilient means for maintaining the shelf at its upward limit, means for limiting the upward movement of the free edge of the shelf, and an alarm comprising two members one of which is secured to the base of the case, and the other to the movable shelf, whereby upon operating the shelf the two parts cooperate and an alarm will. be given, substantially as described.

7 In a case of the kind described, a supplemental bottom or shelf pivotally secured near the front of the case, a spring for normally holding said bottom in a position substantially parallel with the top, and straps for limiting the upward movement of the shelf.

8. In acase of the kind described, a supplemental bottom or shelf pivotally secured near the front of the case, a spring for normally holdingsaid bottom in a position substantially parallel with the top, and straps connecting the free end of the shelf and the bottom of the case.

9. In a device of the kind described, a pivoted shelf comprising a plurality of independently-movable pivoted shelves arranged end to end, each shelf being provided with an alarm, and means actuated by movement of any shelf to sound its alarm.

10. In a show-case, a supplemental bottom or shelf movably secured in said case, springs interposed between the shelf and the case for holding the shelf in a normal position substantially parallel with the top of the case, and straps for limiting the upward movement of the shelf.

11. In a case of the kind described, a base provided with posts provided with longitudinally-disposed grooves adapted to loosely receive the inclosing sides of the case and with transversely-disposed grooves adapted to receive the top of the case, in combination with a shelf pivotally supported near the front of the base and normally maintained in a position substantially parallel with the top of the 12. In a device of the kind described, a pivoted shelf comprising a plurality of independently-movable pivoted shelves arranged end to end, torsion-springs for holding each shelf normally parallel to the top of the case, and straps for limiting the upward movement of the shelves.

13. In a case of the character described, a supplemental bottom movably secured in said case, means for holding the same in a normal position substantially parallel with the top of the case, an alarm and means for sounding the alarm when the supplemental bottom is operated- 14. In a device of the kind described, a pivoted shelf comprising a plurality of independently-movable pivoted shelves, each shelf being provided with a bell, and means actuated by movement of any section for sounding its bell.

15. In a device of the kind described, a case, a pivoted shelf comprising a plurality of independently-movable pivoted shelves, torsionsprings for holding the shelves normally in raised positions, and straps for limiting the upward movement of the shelves.

16. In a device of the kind described, a supplemental pivoted bottom comprising a plurality of independently movable pivoted shelves, each shelf being provided with an alarm, means actuated by movement of any section for sounding an alarm, and torsionsprings for holding the shelves normally in raised positions.

17. In a device of the kind described, a pivoted supplemental bottom comprising a plurality of independently movable pivoted shelves arranged end to end, each shelf being provided with torsion-springs for holding it normally in raised position, straps for limiting the upward movement of the shelves, and bells operated by movement of the shelves, respectively.

18. In a show-case of the character described, abase provided with parts provided with longitudinally disposed grooves adapted to loosely receive the inclosing sides of the case and with transversely-disposed grooves adapted to receive the top of the case, in combination with a shelf normally secured in the case and a spring interposed between said shelf and the bottom of the case for holding the shelf in a normal position substantially parallel with the top of the case.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I/VILL. C. ROOD. Witnesses:

JOHN IV. HILL, CARRIE E. JORDAN. 

